Chapter 5 Transferring Schools
In almost a second, Yu Bai's brain was racing.
After transferring to the new school, Yu Bai hoped that she could always remain a nobody, preferably without any presence at all. However, if she were to be associated with the top students of Nancheng No. 1 High School, she would inevitably be noticed and become the target of everyone's criticism.
The next second, although Yu Bai was nervous as if he were being pulled by a thin thread, he still pretended to be calm and walked towards the corner without changing his expression, wanting to sneak away.
It was as if Jiang Jizhou wasn't calling her by that name, and that she was just one of the onlookers.
Seeing Yu Bai pretending not to know him, Jiang Jizhou twitched his lips, feeling amused and annoyed.
Jiang Jizhou couldn't understand what she wanted to do, but he had no interest in this uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared in his house. He was a spoiled young master by nature, and Yu Bai had left on her own; if she couldn't find the classroom, it wasn't his fault.
Jiang Jizhou turned and left indifferently.
It left a group of bewildered onlookers.
"Who is Gang Jiang Jizhou calling?"
"That girl who left, I think Jiang Jizhou was looking at her," a boy guessed.
"Pshaw, I was just saying I was watching it." One girl dismissed her guess.
"No way, that girl didn't react after hearing that. She doesn't seem to know Jiang Jizhou at all," another girl analyzed rationally.
As the small group walked towards the classroom, they discussed Jiang Jizhou's last words.
Not long after, the bell rang at eight o'clock for class, and the noise on campus disappeared, replaced by quiet and empty space.
Yu Bai was like a wild goose migrating south in autumn, separated from the flock, lost in the vast sky, unable to find his way.
She squatted by the flower bed, her school uniform skirt draped over the tiles, revealing a section of her fair calves, and her mood became increasingly distressed.
The initial disorientation upon arrival and the helplessness of having no relatives or friends made the inability to find a classroom the trigger for all the pent-up negative emotions. This made the already introverted Yu Bai feel like a persimmon falling from a great height, his heart shattered.
She buried her head between her crossed arms, pressing down her soft hair, her nose filled with the rich scent of gardenia from the shampoo. A moment later, salty tears fell onto her hair, wetting it.
Through her teary eyes, Yu Bai caught a glimpse of a pair of gleaming black leather shoes. Looking up, she saw school uniform trousers and a well-fitting suit jacket, which made Jiang Jizhou appear refined and upright, yet his roguish and aloof nature was still unmistakable.
When Yu Bai saw Jiang Jizhou, she was stunned. She didn't expect him to come looking for her. Tears welled up in her eyes and fell onto the back of her hand. The cold touch made her realize her disheveled crying appearance, so she quickly covered her face with her hands to wipe away her tears.
"So you're still a crybaby." Jiang Jizhou leaned against a tree, looking down at Yu Bai with a mocking smile.
But the tissue had already been handed to Yu Bai.
Yu Bai carefully took the tissue, her voice barely audible, "Thank you."
Jiang Jizhou's peach blossom eyes were listless as he looked at Yu Bai with a half-smile, "Don't you want to get to know me?"
Yu Bai was taken aback, unsure how to explain.
It wasn't that she disliked him or didn't want to know him; it was just that he was too dazzling and too flamboyant, while Yu Bai was merely a dim star. She wanted to hide herself among the countless stars, hoping to remain unnoticed.
But when Jiang Jizhou appeared, Yu Bai's heart softened, and an indescribable emotion welled up in her eyes.
Perhaps no one wants to be ignored.
"Okay, go to the classroom yourself, it's right there..."
Yu Bai interrupted Jiang Jizhou, "It's not that I don't want to get to know you, it's just that you're too popular, and I'm afraid that getting close to you will make people dislike me."
She finished speaking in one breath, her face already flushed red, like a ripe apple, bright and juicy; or like a deer lost in the forest, unable to contain its panic.
Jiang Jizhou looked up and, for the first time, really took a good look at this uninvited guest. She had a pair of very clear eyes, like a quiet lake, with long eyelashes resting on them trembling slightly, like bird feathers skimming across the lake.
"Why do I feel like I'm standing by a lake, with fine mist stretching from the ground to the sky, when I sit in front of you?"
Feng Tang's poem flashed through his mind, like a feather brushing against his heart, tickling him, but fleeting.
Jiang Jizhou scoffed, "You're overthinking it."
After a moment, he added, "If anyone dares to bully you, my dad will break their legs."
Yu Bai's face gradually cooled down, his fingers digging into his palms. How could someone like him understand the feelings of someone who had suffered from school bullying?
Like walking on thin ice, like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.
Jiang Jizhou, with one hand in his pocket, said lazily, "Let's go, there are still ten minutes until get out of class ends."
Yu Bai watched his retreating figure, jumped down from the flower bed, her skirt billowing in a gentle arc, and obediently followed behind him.
Jiang Jizhou and Yu Bai were in Class 17, a key science class, located on the third floor of the comprehensive teaching building.
The class was half boys and half girls, and the homeroom teacher was Mr. Li, the physics teacher, a humorous old man.
When Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou arrived at the classroom, it was just after physics class. There were only seats left in the last corner of the classroom, so Yu Bai had to sit there temporarily until the exams next month, after which the seats would be changed.
Yu Bai's appearance sparked whispers among the classmates. High school life was monotonous, and even such a seemingly small matter was like a stone thrown into the water, causing ripples.
Yu Bai, in particular, came with Jiang Jizhou.
Jiang Jizhou was a shining star at the school, excelling academically, coming from a privileged family, and possessing handsome looks, thus attracting numerous admirers. He was easygoing and approachable, but also promiscuous and fickle in matters of the heart. Such people are the most heartless; though he seemed to have many ambiguous relationships, he didn't truly care about any of them.
Yu Bai sat in the corner, engrossed in writing, oblivious to the sounds around him.
She didn't have a deskmate; the table next to her was piled with other students' miscellaneous books.
Across the hallway, the girl next to Yu Bai raised her voice and asked, "What's your name?"
Originally, Lao Li wanted Yu Bai to introduce himself, but Yu Bai insisted on not doing so and said he would just quietly transfer schools, so Lao Li finally agreed.
Yu Bai turned to look at the girl who had asked her the question. She had a round face, big eyes, and a lively and cute appearance with a friendly expression.
Yu Bai pursed her lips and said in a low voice, "Yu Bai, the Yu of Yu Ji, and the Bai of white."
The girl nodded and said, "My name is Mingjing. You can call me Jingzi (Mirror), that's what everyone calls me."
Yu Bai nodded. "Mm."
The girl smiled at her again in a friendly manner.
Yu Bai's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that the classmates in this class were quite easy to get along with. She was looking forward to her senior year of high school. It shouldn't be the same unbearable world she had been in before, filled with bullying and isolation.
Yu Bai couldn't help but smile. When he looked up, he saw a lot of classmates gathered around Jiang Jizhou's desk in the third row.
He was really popular, and Yu Bai was a little envious.
If Jiang Jizhou's world is full of flowers and brocade, then his own is probably full of mud and filth.
Fortunately, things have changed a lot now; at least she's no longer being bullied.
She'll be alright, her senior year of high school will be fine.
"What's your relationship with Jiang Jizhou?" Mingjing asked her, echoing the thoughts of many classmates, and many nearby students had already perked up their ears.
Yu Bai thought for a moment and said calmly, "Brother."
Since she couldn't sever ties, this vague explanation would likely lead some people to mistakenly believe she was Jiang Jizhou's younger sister, and no one would bully her. With this in mind, Yu Bai became even more self-righteous in order to protect herself.
"Yes, I'm his sister." Yu Bai tried to cover up his mistake a little, "My sister is from a relative's side."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding students started chattering amongst themselves.
"This is the first time I've known that Jiang Jizhou has a younger sister."
"But they don't look alike."
"Idiot, you weren't born to the same mother."
...
Yu Bai was flustered, afraid that Jiang Jizhou would expose him, but then he thought that Jiang Jizhou probably wouldn't care about such things, so he felt a little relieved.
Mingjing nodded. "I see. Haha, no wonder you're doing so well since you transferred to our class."
Yu Bai guiltily brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Fortunately, Nancheng No. 1 Middle School did not have any requirements regarding hairstyles, so Yu Bai continued to keep her long, straight black hair, which was draped over her shoulders to cover her hearing aid.
"What happened to your ear?" Mingjing asked, puzzled, when Yu Bai was flipping his hair and saw something that looked like an earphone on his ear.
"It's nothing." Yu Bai was startled and chose to avoid the question. Fortunately, Mingjing didn't press the matter further.
Soon, the school bell rang. Yu Bai breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the sound, finally relieved that he would no longer be questioned.
Classes in the morning end at 11:40, followed by a two-hour lunch break, and classes resume at 3:00 PM.
During their lunch break, Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou took a car home together.
"I heard you're my relative's sister?" Jiang Jizhou asked Yu Bai with a playful expression.
Yu Bai blinked, her hands clenched tightly on her knees, her expression innocent. "Otherwise, I don't know how to explain it."
"oh."
With a cold laugh, Yu Baixin trembled. After hesitating for a moment, she said to Jiang Jizhou, "Don't expose me. I'm afraid people will misunderstand."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jizhou looked up and saw Yu Bai acting obediently and reservedly like a frightened rabbit. He had the idea of teasing her. A playful smile spread across Jiang Jizhou's lips, and he said in a casual tone, "Then beg me."
His tone rose at the end, carrying a slightly provocative undertone, yet his indifferent demeanor was captivating.
"I..." Yu Bai blushed, at a loss for words at his wicked sense of humor.
Jiang Jizhou chuckled and said listlessly, "Just kidding, I'm not going to tell you."
Even though he was deliberately teasing her, Jiang Jizhou's effortless skill was undeniable, and Yu Bai's heart skipped a beat.
Fortunately, the car was driving fast, and the wind blowing in from the window gradually calmed Yu Bai's heartbeat.
At exactly 12:00, we arrived at the Yunjing Villa area.
Pushing open the door, besides Aunt Chen, there was also Uncle Jiang, who was still dressed in a suit and on the phone.
"What use are you if you leave everything to me... Don't come to work tomorrow."
Unlike the kind Uncle Jiang of yesterday, he was now furious, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage.
Yu Bai was a little scared, but when she saw Jiang Jizhou, he seemed to be used to it and casually took a can of cola from the refrigerator and tossed a bottle of milk to Yu Bai. Yu Bai was stunned for a moment, then quickly caught it with both hands.
She glared at Jiang Jizhou, who simply raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
After hanging up the phone, Uncle Jiang noticed Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou.
"Bai Bai, are you adjusting well to school? Uncle is busy and sometimes can't take care of you." Facing Yu Bai, he regained his gentle demeanor and spoke in a very tender tone.
Yu Bai felt a warmth in her heart, and she smiled and said, "I'm getting used to it, Uncle Jiang, you don't need to worry about me."
"That's good." Uncle Jiang turned his head, frowned, and said to Jiang Jizhou, "Jiang Jizhou, take good care of Bai Bai at school, do you hear me?"
Jiang Jizhou glanced at him with disdain and contempt, but in front of outsiders he pretended to be a good father.
"Did you hear me when I spoke to you...?"
Seeing that Jiang Jizhou remained silent, Uncle Jiang prepared to lecture him, but was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.
Upon answering, Uncle Jiang's expression changed. He hurriedly walked out the door, saying urgently, "I'll be there right away... Yang Yang... I'm here, I'm here."
"It must be that vixen, ha, I hope she dies out there."
Unlike his usual carefree and nonchalant attitude, Jiang Jizhou was now gloating.
"You bastard."
Upon hearing Jiang Jizhou's words, Uncle Jiang's expression became even more frightening than when he had just reprimanded his employees.
He grabbed the vase next to him and smashed it at Jiang Jizhou.
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